Architectural black-and-whites

[Mike Buckley]

My wife took me on a walk through a pleasing residential area in late 2011. I liked these two images enough that I converted them to black-and-white a few days ago.

C&C encouraged as always, though I have nothing to ask.

[Aforns]

Hi Mike Very nice, like the composition and mood. Might want to bring out some detail in the dark areas, should be able to pull some with curves? Does look excellent as is and perfect images for the conversion.

[Geoff F]

Composition is excellent.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, Geoff and Alfred!

Might want to bring out some detail in the dark areas, should be able to pull some with curves?

Good idea, Alfred, especially in the second one. I'm new enough at making conversions that I still too often have to return to an image a second time to get it closer to its potential.

[Shadowman]

Both are very nice. I can see flecks of sunlight on both, yet very subtle in black and white. Did that spoil it for you with the color versions?

[Mike Buckley]

No, John. I like the color versions of both images. Though my post-processing of the color version of the first photo isn't as good as in the black-and-white, I could improve the color version.

My reason for making a monochrome is always that I intend for the conversion to be as nice or nicer than the color version. Most often, the two versions are equally nice in different ways. That's perhaps because I don't yet "see" in black-and-white on a regular basis before releasing the shutter.

[Shadowman]

No, John. I like the color versions of both images. Though my post-processing of the color version of the first photo isn't as good as in the black-and-white, I could improve the color version.

My reason for making a monochrome is always that I intend for the conversion to be as nice or nicer than the color version. Most often, the two versions are equally nice in different ways. That's perhaps because I don't yet "see" in black-and-white on a regular basis before releasing the shutter.

Old architecture, mainly cathedrals. and formal clothing has a way of making me see in black and white.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks to Al's suggestion, I provided more detail in the shadow areas in both photos.